‘ Livres en Vie’ , an exhibition by Jean-Marc Godès, is a collection of stunning photographs encouraging us to pick up a book and read. The photographs at Alliance Française appear to be set in a fantasy land. A boy standing on a pile of books and climbing a ladder skywards or a man walking with a chair strapped to his back on which a woman is seated, reading a book — the pathway he is walking on is made of books. The unique quality about artist-photographer Jean-Marc is the vision he has for images. With books always in focus, he plans locations, actors, costumes, make-up, light and sets to capture his images, almost cinema-like.
He has been to India in September 2018 for an exhibition of 50 of his photographs. “I did photo workshops with students and loved working with young Indians. The contact was easy,” he says. In an email interview, he shares why books will always be the central point of his images.
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The book is very important to me. It is the universal way of transporting knowledge and stories in all countries. My father was a writer and as a child, I was a little isolated. My family moved often and I did not have time to have real friends. My father was never available, between his work and writings. So, it is in the books that I found words that helped me endure life and have the courage and desire to go to the unknown world. It is my homage to the book and I place it at the centre of my artistic research. It is to give a positive and stimulating image of this essential object to humanity.
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Your photographs are unique with real stagings, costumes, actors and are created without computer editing.
When I think of moments, it is often an image that comes into my head. For my photographs, I plan stagings that are stills. My goal is to offer emotions and tell a story. The technique resembles that of theatre and cinema. I plan the scenario and begin by a drawing. I find a location and note the position of sun and time. Depending on the project, I find technical solutions. I create my set and sometimes we put animals in the story. When I need, technicians help me. I choose my actors, costumes, and make-up. We do rehearsals and photograph the scene that I want to see in the image. The movement and emotions of actors are are important. I create small worlds that do not exist in reality. I do everything to make the final image credible so that the imaginary world of the book can exist.
From where do you derive your ideas?
It’s a mystery to me. After every creation, I want to find a path that I have not explored. I do not want to create images that look similar. I try to surprise myself.
Often, I go through an emotional discomfort but after a a week or month an idea arises, surprises me and takes me away and thus begins a creative process. The image born in my head evolves from day to day. and when its form is satisfactory, then I wonder how I will translate this project ‘impossible’ in the real world. I do not choose a theme. But I want a balance of nature, children, women and men, animals too. I want to have actors from different cultures, different colours. I try to illustrate the pleasure of living.
Share the experiences of travelling to different countries and showcasing your photographs
Wherever I went, I saw surprise in people’s eyes and they also tell me it made them think. In China, the audience was invited to write short stories from my images. The texts were full of emotion and human warmth.
Tell us about your audio visual works.
I decided that my film would be without words. The film took four months. My actors are the same as in my photos. The film was an adventure but it also exhausted me. The film is imperfect from a technical point of view but it evokes tenderness.
How much time do you spend on reading?
I do not have much time to read, that’s the paradox. What I like most is historical novels. I like discovering countries and cultures through these books.
(‘ Livre en Vie – Living Books’ an exhibition by Jean Marc Godès is on view at Alliance Française till February 12; 9.30am to 8pm)